THE LATE BOAT ACCIDENT.
To the Editor. Sir, —I beg through your columns to thank sincerely the police, watermen, and many kind friends for their great exertions and ultimate success in recovering the bodies pf joy unfortunate sons, John Dktw, Cumberland-street, Dunedin. 30th December, 1871. To the Editor. Sir, — With the late disaster fresh in the recollection, it is not enough to let the matter drop with sympathy, which has been deep and universal, but to try if something could not be done to prevent such harrowing scenes in future. I would suggest that, besides causing a strict examina ion of every waterman as to his own skill in nautical matters, especially the management of a boat, and causing him to accompany it or find a duly qualified substitute each boat, according to its carrying capacity, ought to be furnished uith life-preservers, one for each passenger, such as may be seen in Mr Bacon’s, shoemaker, George screct. It measures 48 x 9 inches ; is composed of calico and india-rubbber, air tight, with a lateral brass tube by which it can be inflated or compressed at pleasure. It is fixed round the chest on the outside of the clothes under the armpits; and I am told by the aid of this instrument, not over f ,ybs. weight, and therefore quite portable, not only could a person unable to swim support himself, but a good swimmer would be able to sujiport two others in the water. It would not cost more than 10s, and might be manufactured in Dunedin for less money. A similar appliance has been known to sustain dead bodies at sea for a period of three months, thereby enabling relatives to know the fate of those of whom no tidings might otherwise be ever heard. It would be admirably adapted for harbor excursions on holiday s and crossing rivers in the interior. In fact, fortified with this simple apparatus, 1 do not believe wc should have to chronicle another accident by drowmng in the sight at least , of speculators, boats, and laud. What a boon ! Sir, as a philanthropist I trust you will not close your columns on this subject until there be some practical plan adopted by which the living may be protected against those constantly recurring and heart-rending disasters, which not only mantle a whole city in mourning, but plunge whole families into irretrievable loss, lamentation, and woe. Dolok.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD18711230.2.14.1
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2767, 30 December 1871, Page 3
Word count
Tapeke kupu
402THE LATE BOAT ACCIDENT. Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2767, 30 December 1871, Page 3
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.